I have a Dell Dimension E510 with Windows XP Media version, free Zone Alarm Firewall, use Firefox as main browser & Internet Explorer when I have to. Have Comcast as my internet provider (DSL-broadband) & main email. Also use gmail.
This is probably in the forum - but I have not found it yet.
What should I set up to be scanned?
If I choose local discs - it will scan everything on that disc. Does everything need to be
scanned? Are there some programs or files that wouldn’t need to be scanned?
Or would you just recommend choosing this option?
I’m just wondering how long it will take to scan the local drive which has 122 GB’s of information on it.
From my understanding - I only need to do a scan monthly - is that correct?
It appears to me that if there are updates for avast - it updates automatically. Is this correct.
I just changed from AVG to avast & am finding this a little more confusing to use.
Besides what Dieselman said the On-Access scan has different scan sensitivity also, Quick, Standard and Thorough, with that you can choose to scan archives or not, the default is not.
As to the frequency of a scan, the sensitivity to use and if you should select to scan archives.
Over time the on-access scan will become less of an issue/requirement, as the resident, on-access scanners are designed to intercept infection before it gets into your system (so a monthly scan isn’t bad, weekly with a lessor sensitivity and no archives I feel is a better option).
Archive (zip, rar, etc.) files are by their nature are inert, you need to extract the files and then you have to run them to be a threat. Long before that happens avast’s Standard Shield should have scanned them and before an executable is run that is scanned. Thorough is also by its design very thorough and perhaps a little overkill for routine use, were a Standard scan without archives should be adequate.
I have only ever done a Through Scan with Archives once shortly after installation just to ensure a clean start state, but with XP for example avast will do a boot-time scan after installation if you select it, this I believe will be quicker and reasonably effective. Like everything in life things are a compromise.
Thank you for your response. After I installed avast - I did select the scan on boot-up. It took practically all evening - so I’m assuming if I had any problems - they should have surfaced.
I feel more comfortable with what I am doing now. My kids think I’m crazy - but I just want to be a safe as I can.
My son has a Mac & keeps telling me - Mom, if you had a Mac you wouldn’t have to worry - oh well…
I have a related question with the boot time scan on the Avast Home version.
I have found that I have to stay with the computer to watch the scan in order to read the results because after the scan there is not report of the results. I set the scan on repair files, but if the file is not repaired like a trojan then it just remains on the system and i don’t know about it unless i am watching the scan at the time and reading the results as they appear as the scan is taking place.
Am i missing something? Is there a better way to do the scan or set the scan?
I choose automatically process infected files: send to Chest.
And automatically process infected system files: ignore/do nothing.
Than post back the report and ask for help.